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Merz and the dispute over Belém: Lula counters with a clear message!
Chancellor Merz criticizes Belém during the climate summit. President Lula counters with references to local culture and quality of life.
Merz and the dispute over Belém: Lula counters with a clear message!
In the midst of preparations for the World Climate Conference in Belém, Brazil, an exchange of blows between Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is causing a stir. Merz made negative comments about the host city, which elicited a sharp rebuttal from Lula. While the Chancellor justified his return to Germany by claiming that his journalists did not want to stay there, Lula made it clear that Belém, despite its challenges, is a place of hospitality and culture. “You should try the local cuisine and experience the warmth of the people,” he advised Merz in a direct counterattack. SVZ reports that ...
At the international climate summit that Merz plans to attend on Friday, the Chancellor is planning a speech at 2:45 p.m. CET in which he would like to clearly advocate for multilateralism in the face of the climate crisis. Talks with Lula and other heads of state are also on the agenda. Meanwhile, the criticism of Merz's assessments of Belém has not stopped. Brazilian media, such as the Diário do Centro do Mundo, described his comparisons as outrageous, and the mayor of Belém also reiterated that such statements are perceived as arrogant, especially in a city that continues to struggle with poverty. Die Zeit describes how...
The challenges and hopes of Belém
Belém, known as one of the poorest cities in Brazil, faces a dilemma: While the city received a lot of money to host the climate conference, there are still many dilapidated houses and littered waterways. The mayor pointed out that despite the new construction and renovations carried out in preparation for the summit, major social and infrastructural challenges still remain. This contrast between progress and backwardness is complex and illustrates that local reality is often far from the ideals of policies.
However, the climate summit itself also has positive potential, especially under the leadership of Lula, who is taking a step in the right direction with the “Tropical Forests Forever Facility” fund. This fund aims to mobilize billions to protect tropical forests. Lula warned the international community not to miss the “window of opportunity to act,” especially given the global threat of global warming. UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that the goals of the Paris Agreement are far from being achieved, which further increases the pressure on governments.
A look into the future
The UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) will begin on Monday with around 50,000 participants and will primarily focus on inadequate measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect forests. Given these major challenges, it will be crucial that everyone involved, including Merz and Lula, work together to find solutions. The international community is required to be willing to act to ensure a future worth living for future generations.